Dec. 28, 2011

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ALLENDALE, Mich. - The Grand Valley State women's basketball team returns to action as it travels south to play Florida Southern on Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. and Tampa on Dec. 30 at 5:30 p.m. Kent Fisher will have the call on both games on WTKG 1230 AM or GVSULakers.com

Both teams are coming off impressive wins in their final outing before the holiday break.  The Lakers topped No. 7 Michigan Tech, 66-40, Dec. 19 to even their record at 5-5.  Florida Southern rallied from a 14-point first-half deficit to beat Alabama-Huntsville, 78-69, to improve their record to 8-2.

Michaela Hawley paces the Mocs with 21.9 points per contest, while Morgan Lamberg averages almost
a double-double with 11.2 points and 9.9 rebounds pre game. Danielle Walsh has the ability to
find baskets for her teammates leading with 59 assists.

Tampa has been on hiatus since its 53-27 win over Southeastern on Dec. 10.  The Spartans are led by a trio of double-figure scorers in Moriah Hodge (12.7), Illyssa Vivo (11.3) and Jaleesa Harmon (11.1). Hodge and Vivo also lead the team off the board. Tampa is averaging 5.6 threes per game, and shooting 41.2 percent from behind the arc, while also posting a 44.6 clip from the floor.

This will be the first time Grand Valley State meets with Florida Southern and Tampa. The Lakers have only ever played one other Sunshine State Conference affiliate and that was Florida Tech. The Lakers lost to the Panthers in 2003, 64-49.

GAME NOTES
STARTING SHUFFLE
GVSU has used seven different line ups this season, but have not found one that works perfectly. That is okay because of...
...BENCH POINTS.
The starting line up gets some much-needed assistance from off the bench. GVSU nonstarters are outscoring their opponents, 212-130 this season.

FiRST HALF STANDOUT
The Lakers are outscoring their opponents 324-243 in the first half, but fall in the second half 351-326 to opponents. GVSU is 4-3 when leading at halftime, but needs at least a 15- point cushion to win the game as trends show.

PERSONAL ASSiSTANT
Guard Jasmine Padin has had one assist in all but TWO games in a Laker uniform. The senior just snapped a 77-GAme ASSiST STReAk in the win against Michigan Tech.

HOLD ‘EM DOWN
GVSU is outscoring its opponents in victories by 26.8 points and limiting its foes to just 30 percent shooting and 21 percent clip from behind the arc.

1,000 POiNT CLUB
Senior Jasmine Padin is just 48 points away from 1,000 career points. Juniors Alex Stelfox and Briauna Taylor are well on their into the 1,000 point club as well. Stelfox has 851 points, while Taylor owns 778 points.

BOARD WORK
GVSU has outrebounded its opponents seven times this season, holding a +8.2 margin overall. The Lakers are averaging double-digit offensive caroms (11.5) which has led to 25+ points in the paint in every contest.